Driver's side bolster
Looking at a new vehicle for my wife and have been intrigued by Lexus luxury and reliability reputation. This would be the nicest vehicle my wife has ever had but it's a large purchase for our family.

Picked out a certified 2013 RX350 with 73k miles, blind spot sensors and a few goodies we like. The only issues I don't like with the vehicle are the driver's leather bolster (cracked and worn) and the mouse control. Carfax is clean, tires almost new and drives well.

Got the dealer down to 22k but I'm struggling with the idea of paying for a 7 year old SUV even with the 2 year cert warranty vs buying a 2016 Honda CRV with lower mileage (or something similar).

Do you guys feel this is a good value and should I have confidence with this purchase? I'm really stuck on 22k for a 7 year old SUV irrespective of it's luxury. Would really appreciate the thoughts of current RX350 Gen3 owners.

Is the driver's side seat bolster being cracked/worn indicative of something I should be concerned with? Kind of unsightly and I've seen other RX350 same year/mileage that don't have this kind of wear.

Thank you in advance.

 

Hello!
It looks like dirt in the grooves of the leather. I have black interior and have those creases too. Parchment color seems to show a lot more dirt due to its lighter color.

I would think any good leather cleaner should help.
Maybe have the Lexus dealership do it for you consider buying it.

If you have not already, go to kbb.com or cargurus.com to get an idea the value of the car. Dealer price will prolly be 1000-1500$ more due to Lexus Certified Pre-Owned status.

If you have NAV ask to have it upgraded to latest maps before you buy the car.

Good luck!

 

That is typical of the parchment color leather and the dirt in the cracks can be cleaned up. Look at these tips about Lexus Leather in the detailing forum

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/aut...detailing-122/

Good luck with the car decision process. Have you also considered a RAV4 vs the CRV? It is about as large inside as the RX, has a nicer infotainment system and I would consider it a serious competitor with better mileage. The Limited trim level is really nice.

 

I like my 2013 Subaru Outback 3.6R (now at 50,600 miles) much better than my wife's 2015 RX350 (now at 43,600 miles). The Outback 3.6R is much more capable (full-time all-wheel-drive) in all weather conditions and also happens to be both quicker and faster. I also believe that its build quality is better. If you decide to look at the Outback, stick to the 3.6R (the 6-cylinder version). I find the little 4-cylinder engines to be underpowered.

 

Funny you should say that I was looking at a 16 Subaru Crosstrek but I'm not sure about their CVT drivetrain...heard mixed things.

 

Wife doesn't like the RAV4 but yes I agree it's a great SUV....thanks for the detailing link.

 

Thanks and the NAV map tip was very good hadn't even thought of it.

My main question is should I be comfortable with a certified 2013 Lexus RX350 with 73k miles? 22k is alot for a 7 year old vehicle...good carfax should I have confidence in this purchase?

 

They are very reliable, with only a few weak spots. Those being leaking rear shocks, the oil leak at the timing chain cover which is a small but very expensive leak to repair and some transmission failures after 90,000 miles most if not all of which appear to be on vehicles that never had the transmission fluid changed. It is a good idea to change it around 60,000 miles if you plan to keep it a long time.

However, if getting it, demand the dealer perform a transmission fluid change if it has not been done. If the dealer won't do it (some will and some won't crying nonsense about it being sealed) then call a couple of Toyota dealers to find one who will and get it done, even if you have to pay for it. If they will but want you to pay, do it. Spending a couple of hundred now to help ensure longevity of the transmission after 100,000 miles is better than having to replace a $7,000 transmission later.

 

Thank you that was helpful...my biggest fear in buying this vehicle are potential enormous repair costs.

 

That is true of any used vehicle. You did state it was Lexus certified, which you pay for but it gives you the extended warranty and only the better used cars qualify to be certified. If you look at Consumer Reports used car ratings, this is one of the most reliable vehicles you can buy, as are most Toyota/Lexus products. Most folks here have very few problems with their vehicles.

Mine is a 2010 with 73,000 miles. Except for replacing the leaky rear shocks ($80 cost and I installed them) I have only done maintenance and normal wear items like brakes, tires and a battery.

And cleaning those leather seats. What happens is the polyurethane topcoat over the leather gets cracks and holds the dirt. Frequent cleaning with a soft brush and warm water or whatever they recommend on the detailing forum will help.

 

We can't answer that for you. If you need more info to make your decision then get the vehicle inspected by a reliable 3rd party. Even though we bought an L/Certified RX we had it inspected. Inspection turned up some minor concerns but no show stoppers for us. As for whether that's "a lot" you need to shop around for comparable options in your market and consider that you're looking at a certified vehicle to determine if the price is within a reasonable range. Do not rely soley rely on Carfax.

Generally RX's are very reliable except for a few potential issues pointed out above but individual vehicles can always stray from the trend depending on the specific care, maintenance, etc. I wouldn't expect big issues with a certified vehicle but I'd also never rely solely on the word of the party selling the vehicle to me (the dealer does they certification inspection).

Wear like that is another thing that can vary depending on the owner's care & use. Other have already said this but your photo indicates wrinkles and dirt and not cracks to me

 

FYI,. Not sure if Subaru uses exclusively JATCO's (UNRELIABLE) transmissions But there are evidently more than enough compliants out there to prompt Subaru to issue "EXTENDED WARRANTY" on some of its 1.5 million late model Subaru vehicles!!!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen/...lion-vehicles/

 

My Subaru Outback research in 2015 convinced me to stay away from any CVT transmission. The 3.6R / 5EAT engine/transmission combination is well-proven and probably the best powertrain Subaru has ever utilized. If you buy a Subaru, that is the best way to go. I do ATF drain-and-fills every 30,000 miles as an extra layer of transmission insurance. Easy 20-minute job requiring about $35 worth of fresh fluid.

 

Just bought the Lexus today so guess I'm a member of ClubLexus. I have to say the buying process at the Lexus store was pretty smooth and painless. Hope to have years of enjoyment with this purchase.

 

Congrats! Enjoy your new ride!!